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Abstract

The optical design presented here has been done in order to achieve superior optical performance in comparison with the state-of-the-art Fresnel CPV systems. The design consists of a Photovoltaic Concentrator (CPV) comprising a Fresnel lens (F) as a Primary Optical Element (POE) and a dielectric solid RXI as a Secondary Optical Element (SOE), both with free-form surfaces (i.e. neither rotational nor linearly symmetric). It is the first time the RXI-type geometry has been applied to a CPV secondary. This concentrator has ultra-high CAP value ready to accommodate more efficient cells eventually to be developed and used commercially in future.

Figures (5)

3D Köhler freeform FRXI concentrator: (Left) Scheme of one Köhler integrator
unit; (Right) Ray trace showing FRXI performance for a normal incidence: a plane wavefront
emulating the sun has been traced in order to show how this beam is split and focused on the
four SOE facets to be spread afterwards and produce uniform irradiance on the solar cell.
This will be valid for every ray within the designed acceptance angle.

Irradiance profile on the solar cell (FRXI_m) when the sun is on-axis and the solar
spectrum is restricted to: (Left) the top subcell range (360-690nm), (Middle) the middle
subcell range (690-900nm), (Right) the bottom subcell range (900-1,800nm). Simulation
parameters are described with detail in the beginning of Section 3. (a.u. = arbitrary
units)

(Left) Cross section of the SOEs of the Fresnel-based concentrators to compare. Cross
section of their corresponding cells which should be centered at the origin is shown
displaced to make them visible; (Right) CAP values. Sample figure adapted
from [14, 15].